Smaller ECB panel puts greater onus on head coach Trevor Bayliss to have a significant input into England’s fortunes in all versions of the game

Traditionally after an emphatic Ashes defeat the captain or the coach is jettisoned. But this time the response from the England and Wales Cricket Board has been more measured and decorous than usual. Two months after the defeat in Sydney Andrew Strauss has announced a modest shake-up of England’s selection process.

There are obvious reasons why Joe Root and Trevor Bayliss have survived a 4-0 loss in Australia. Root is a young captain, still coming to the terms with the job. He could be an excellent leader provided he remembers that his prime function is to score stacks of runs.